South Korean prosecutors indicted former President Moon Jae-in on April 24 on bribery charges over the hiring of his former son-in-law by a Thai airline allegedly controlled by a former ruling party lawmaker.
The Jeonju District Prosecutors' Office said Moon was charged with violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes (Bribery).
Prosecutors allege Moon received around 217 million won ($157,000) in the form of salary and housing benefits provided to his son-in-law, surnamed Seo, who worked as an executive at Thai Eastar Jet from August 2018 to April 2020. Investigators said the airline was effectively controlled by former Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Sang-jik.
Lee was also indicted on charges of bribery and occupational breach of trust. Seo and Moon’s daughter, Da-hye, were not indicted but received suspended indictments, prosecutors said.
The investigation began in December 2021 following a complaint by a civic group. Prosecutors said Seo, who previously worked in the gaming industry and had no aviation experience, was given the executive post as a political favor in exchange for Lee’s appointment as head of the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency.
Authorities said the airline had no need to hire Seo but still appointed him to a senior role and paid for his relocation. They allege Moon and his daughter were directly involved in receiving the financial benefits and that Moon helped facilitate Seo’s hiring and move to Thailand through the presidential office’s special inspection team.
